Can-printing machine



Filed June l 1926 s 'sheets-sneu 1 lllli 1,638, 5 Aug 16 1927 vw.;F. HEBRANK 8 o CAN, PRINTINGk MACHINE Filed June l 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet@ 501Y Eig.

mvENToR vW. F. HEBRNK BY momf.

A 16,192. l g 7 w. F. HEBRANK 1638850 CAN PRINTING MACHINE Filed June 1 192e s sheets-sheet 3 INVENTOR 'w.r. HERANKV Patented Aug. 16, 1927.r

UNITED STATES 3 1,638,850 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. HEBRANK, F HIGHLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 PET MILK COMPANY, 0F yS'I. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF DELAIITABE.-

CAN-PRINTING MACHINE.

Application led June, 1,

My invention relates to a -can printing machine, that is a machine for printing on each can or other container passing through it, a p

number or other distinguishing mark so that,

for example, the cans of one days run of a erate on cans or other packages ofthe usual cylindrical form and to print the number orv any other distinguishing mark on the periphery of the can. e f

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form of machine made in accordance with my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 2 is an end view; Figure 3 is an enlarged .section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a detail view showing the method of mounting the spring'k presser bars. i e l The base of the machine, indicated at 10, has bolted to it a pair of uprights 11, in which is journaled a shaft 12 to which power for driving the machine is applied through a. pulley 13. Extending upwardly from each of the uprights 11 are a pair of arms 14 carrying a track 15 curved in the arc of a circle having the axis of the shaft 12 as its center and terminating in downwardly projecting ends 16. Secured between the ends 16 of the two tracks 15 are shoes 17 and 18 respectively, the former being adapted to be secured to the receiving end of a can conveyor and the latter to the discharge end thereof so that the cans 19 (Figure 3) will be conveyed through the machine inthe direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1.

Rigidlymounted on the shaft 12 is a disk 20 having a shoulder 21 adapted to engage with the periphery of the can at one end and maintain it at a Xed radial distance from the shaft 12 as it passes from the shoe 17 to the shoe 18. The disk 20 is provided with a sleeve 22 having on its end a small disk 23 bolted to a disk 20 provided with a shoulder 21 like the shoulder on the disk 20 and adapted to engage with the opposite end of the can. Formed on the inner face of the disk 20 is a drum 24 carrying the printing devices. In the drawings I have shown these printing devices as three in number but the number may be varied in accordance with the relative diameter of the drum and can in 1926. serial N6. 112,775.

order to insure lone impression and one only on each can. Each printing device vcomrises a holder 25 adapted to carry removable rubber type 26 and radially movable in retaining bars 27. The holders are normally held in Vtheir outer position by pins 28 on springs 29. This construction allows the type and holders t0 yield inwardly when contacting with either the inking roll or the can.

`Formed on the outer face of the disk 20 is a boss 30 for centering a toothed ring 31 rigidly attached to the disk.. The teeth of f this ring mesh with a pinion 32 mounted on a shaft 33 jou'rnaled in the uprights 11 directly below the shaft 12. Mounted on the shaft 33 is kan inking'roll 34 the periphery of which is supplied with `ink by means of a felt pad 35 mounted on a spring plate 36 and having its lower end immersed in ink in an'ink pan 37 secured to the base 10. A uniform coating of ink is then applied to the surface ofthe ink roll by the capillary action of thepad. In addition to the pinion 32 the shaft 33 is provided with-asprocket wheel 38 around which passes a sprocket chain 39. y

Arranged against the inner face of each of the track members 15 isa spring presser bar .40. 'The bar 40 is carried by a pair of bolts 41 rigidly secured to the bar and passing through openings 42 in a flange 43 on the inner face of the track. Coil springs 44 force the bar inwardly so that the normal distance between the bar and the shoulder 2l is slightly less than the diameter of the can the shoe 17 are lugs 45 in which is journaled a shaft 46 on the end of which is a sprocket wheel 47 driven by the sprocket chain 39. Mounted on the shaft 46 between the track 15 are a pair of feed wheels 48 each provided with a soft rubber tread 49. The object of these feed wheels is to engage the cans on the shoe 17 and force them into the space between the shoulder 21 and the presser bar 40. At'ter being forced between these parts the can is rolled along between them by the rotary movement of the disks 20 and 20 until 'it is delivered to the shoe 18 being firmly held against the shoulder by the spring action of the presser bar. During the travel from one shoe to another one of the rubber 19. Formed on the track 15 at a point above vstamps 26 engages with its periphery to print the desirednumber or other distinguishing mark thereon. A cross bar 50 may be provided to brace the tracks at their central part.

Having fully described my invention, what I 4claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination with a. rotary member, of an impression device carried' thereby, an arcuate spring presser bar cooperating with the article to be marked when the impression device cooperates therewith, and means for forcing tlie'aiticle between the rotary inember and presser bar, said means comprising a. feed wheel having a resilient tread.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of rotary disks each provided with can engaging shoulders, of

an impression device carried between saidO disks, and arcuate presser bars holding the cans against said shoulders while the impression device contacts with the can.

3. In a deviceof the class described, the combination with a pair of rotary disks each provided with a can engaging shoulder, of a yielding impression device carried between said disks, and yielding arcuate presser bars holding the cans against said shoulders while l the impression device contacts with the can.

t. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of rotary disks each provided with can engaging shoulders,` of a yielding impression device carri-ed between said disks, yielding arcuate presser bars holding the cans against said shoulders, and a feed wheel for forcing the cans between said shoulders and presser bars.

5. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a rotary member, of an impression device carried thereby, a landing .,lioe arranged at one side of said rotary member, a discharge shoeV arranged at the other side thereof and at approximately the same horizontal level, and an arcuate presser bar extending between said shoes for causing engagement of the article to be marked with said rotary member, said bar being spring-pressed at a plurality of points along its length.

6. In a device of the class described', the

combination with ak rotary member, of an impression device carried thereby, a landing shoe arranged atone side of said rotaryy member, a discharge shoe arranged aty the other side thereof, a yielding presser bar eX- tending between said shoes for causingl engagement of the article to be marked with said rotary member, and a feed wheel ar-A ranged adjacent to one end of the presser bar for forcing the article between said rotary member and presser bar.

7. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a pair of disks each havl/VILLIAM F. IIEBRANK. 

